WASHINGTON – Oct. 19, 2006 – The Arab American Institute
(AAI) welcomes Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s recent
efforts to secure and defend the rights of Arab Americans of Palestinian
descent to travel to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

At Secretary Rice’s direction, the U.S. recently filed a complaint
with the Israeli Embassy in Washington over implementation of an Israeli
policy that has resulted in the barring of entry to Arab Americans.

“We applaud Secretary Rice for following up on this important issue
for Arab Americans,” said AAI President James Zogby. “Arab
Americans have been regularly traveling to their ancestral homelands for
generations and they have a significant role to play in the
reconstruction of the economic and social life in the Occupied
Territories. It is important that their right and ability to continue to
do so be reaffirmed.”